MELBOURNE (Reuters) - All but six of more than 150 short-finned pilot whales that stranded themselves on a beach in Western Australia have died, despite efforts from authorities and local beachgoers to save them, officials said on Saturday. The marine mammals stranded themselves in Hamelin Bay, 315 km (198 miles) south of the state's capital, Perth, between March 22 and 23. Pilot whales, which are part of the dolphin family, weigh between one and four tons each, providing a logistical challenge to local authorities, who are now working on disposing of the carcasses. There was a previously recorded mass stranding in 1996, when 320 long-finned pilot whales stranded themselves just north of Hamelin Bay and died. The beach has been temporarily closed while authorities dispose of the deceased whales.

Source: The Star March 24, 2018 00:33 UTC